The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-05-18
but at last found one that seemed to be
lust what we wanted. Her model below


lust what we wanted. Her model below
the water-line was 80 perfect, so superior
to any that we had ever seen, that we de-
termined to buy her, although she seemed
overmasted and rather clumsily rugged.
The boatbuilder acknowledged this
himself, saying that he had finished her
hurriedly, being overrun with work.
"But," said he, "you will find that there
is no boat in these waters that can sail
with her. She is perfect model. Look
at her lines. The faults you mention are,
after all, but trihcs. You can alter her
rigging to suit yourselves when you get
her to Kralholm; besides, am just
man, and will allow you something off
the price, so that you will really have a
bargain"
So, after some haggling, price was
agreed upon, which Elias paid down, and
the boat was his. The boatbuilder, how
ever, made US promise faithfully not to
alter her in the least particular, not even
to touch her with tar brush, until we
were at Kralholm. "For," said he, ~
have boasted greatly Of this boat, and l
do not wish to be shamed before the
whole town by having you begin to alter
her rig the moment you own her."
We gave the promise readily, and the
builder talked 80 much while she was be-
ing launched that neither of us noticed
that no cross was tarred on her stern.
My wife will have it that the boat
builder was in league with the norman,
who had doubtless taught him how to
build so well below the water line that
he might lure us into sailing thus unpro-
tected by the holy sign, which all fiends
fear, and which would have saved us
from his vengeance. She may be right;
such things have been. and that man I
have heard ended miserably..
Early in the afternoon we all sailed for
home. We had about eight miles to go,
and soon found that the. sca-going
qualities of our new purchase were likely
to be thoroughly tested. 1t blew very
hard and the waves ran high. She
behaved splendidly, skimming over the
pillows like a waterfowl, shipping
scarcely a spray. We were delighted
with her.
Suddenly Karen gave cry of alarm,
and pointed over the stern. We looked
and saw a great black cloud, which
seemed to cover the whole horizon, roll
ing down upon us with streak of boiling
white foam before it. sprang to reef
the sail, and in an instant the squall was
upon us. At once all was dark as night.
We could not see each others faces.
The wind howled, and as the boat bent
to it, rushing on her course, it seemed
that she must capsize. The children
screamed with fright. Then at a short
distance to windward the blackness
opened as if a curtain had been drawn
up, and in broad space of living green
ish light We saw another ten-oared boat.
She stood out black and distinct against
the half-circle of light which seemed to
travel with her. She was an exact copy
of our own boat; she was sailing the same
course, but, while we heeled terribly to
the wind and plunged madly to the
raging sea, she with full sail set, glided
along on an even keel, as steady as
though the sea were mill-pond. The
wind and sea seemed to have no effect
on her.
could but see one aboard her, a dark
figure at the helm. She frightened me.
But I could not think of her long, for
the wind was now a hurricane, and
every wave dashed over her bows, half
filling the boat with water. I heard
Elias shout: "Look out! Hold fast, all
of youw and saw an enormous wave, as
high as our mast it seemed, toppling
over US. Tons of water dashed down
upon us, and I thought we were sinking;
but our boat quickly righted and seemed
to shake the water from her. I loo ked
first for Elias. I could just make out his
figure at the helm. Then heard half
stihed shrek. 60, Elias, husband
Martha and Nils! Save them" 1t was
Karen's voice. The two little ones were
gone. heard Elias groan. We could
do nothing. Then looked for the other
boat. The greenish light was brighter,
the strange craft more distinct. Two
had been added to her crew. They stood
motionless by her mast; their faces were
the faces of the dead, the faces
of the drowned children. 1t was
fearful sight, but before we could speak
word another mountain of water was
hurled upon us, and when it had passed
Karen was gone, and Anton's life line
dangled loose and empty. could hear
Elias praying, while the four older boys
clung half drowned to the mast and neither
moved nor spoke.
We heard loud laugh, and a deep
voice called: "Ha! ha! Elias, will have
full crew SOON" There was the strange
boat scarce fifty feet from U.S. In her
were Karen and Anton, Nils and Martha,
dead and white, and there, huge, naked
and terrible, stood the steersman, with
ea-green hair and beard blowing wildly
about his frightful head.
With a menacing gesture he pointed to
the spike of a fish spear sticking between
his shoulders, nearly tainted. Elias
ceased praying. BY the ghastly light
now so near US I could see his face. 1t
was that of wild beast at bay, despair
ing but ferocious.
Drawing his long knife, he muttered:
81 know you, know you! If spear
can pierce your back, this may reach
your heart"
ELIAS" I shriekcd, "that was on
land. What would you do?"
END this, one way or other" he
shouted. "To the sheet, fool" and he
put up the helm. trimmed the sail
close, as by instinct, and we flew to run
down our pursuer. l was now desperate,
too, and grasping the boathook, stood
ready to strike.